British light-heavyweight Joshua Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing debut to life under recent management with a decision win over Zach Parker in Manchester.
The Olympic medal winner's activity level seemingly secured him a majority decision in a tight 10-round contest at the boxing arena.
But Parker had his moments, connecting with powerful single shots in a fight where the approaches failed to mesh, with constant grabbing marring the contest.
The scoring judges had it 96-94 for to Buatsi, with the final judge a even score.
"It wasn't my greatest showing but how do champions respond? They win," Buatsi said in the ring as he was greeted with boos from the spectators.
The Londoner bounced back after his first professional defeat - an thrilling contest with his previous opponent in February - to earn a 20th career victory.
Various analysts thought Parker, thirty-one, should have been awarded the win but the Derbyshire fighter experienced the second defeat of his 28-fight career.
Buatsi Claims Victory in Uneventful Affair
His career development has slowed in the past few years through contract problems and considerable time of inactivity.
Once tipped as the rising talent of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to achieve expectations - possibly in what seems like a final roll of the dice - under fresh management.
He began cautiously, with both competitors ready to take risks in a tentative early stages.
The challenger, whose only previous defeat came at super middleweight against John Ryder in two years ago after breaking his hand during the bout, was making just his second fight at the higher weight class.
By the halfway stage, Parker had kept it close, creating difficulties for Buatsi, who operated with a tight guard to barely take the cleaner periods.
The audience's tolerance wore thin because of regular grabbing, with Parker slipping to the canvas various instances during grappling.
The underdog ended stronger, but several stanzas were hard to judge. Nevertheless, ex-champion Carl Frampton - working with the broadcast network - had it particularly wide for Parker, scoring for Buatsi just one round.
The victor progresses, but with the caliber of hard hitter Benavidez, and Russian star Bivol leading the category, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still looks steep.
Hatton Tribute Inspires Manchester Derby Fight
In the secondary fight, Lyndon Arthur beat Rea by split-decision in a excellent local rivalry contest to secure the European light-heavyweight title.
The venue fell silent for a deeply poignant homage before the fight as 10 bells sounded in remembrance of local hero Ricky Hatton, who died aged 46 in recently.
It was the first major televised boxing event in the location since Hatton's death. As the concluding sound disappeared, the stillness gave way to a roar of "there's just one Ricky Hatton".
The competition inside the ropes matched the emotion. The eventual winner was sent to the canvas by a powerful punch directly to the jaw in the early round, getting up unsteadily to his position on the count of eight.
But the red-colored equipment of the fighter soon advanced again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, heavy swelling forming under his eye as the duo landed powerful shots.
The challenger, 27, delivered effective strikes but Arthur, 34, fought fire with fire with powerful upward punches as the action hardly diminished over 12 rounds.
Arthur barely secured the decision with official scores of even score, narrow lead and clearer margin, but the two athletes were persistent and courageous, all the qualities their hero Hatton represented.
